Apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for supporting a floating boom which forms a barrier on the surface of a liquid and for forming a seal between the end of the boom and a fixed structure, for example a dock. The apparatus allows lateral and vertical displacement of the boom with changes of wind, current, or tide while maintaining the seal. A deformable, resilient wall held in pressure contact with the dock while supported on a vertically and laterally movable frame displaceable along a vertical pipe spaced from the dock maintains the seal to prevent oil or other pollutants on the surface of the liquid from passing between the end of the boom and the dock.

United States Patent 1 Gauch 1 APPARATUS I [75] Inventor: George J. Gauch, South Bend, Ind.

[73] Assignee: Uniroyal, Inc., New York, NY. 22 Filed: Apr. 12, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 243,375

[52] U.S. Cl. 61/1 F [51] Int. Cl E02b 15/04 [58] Field of Search 6111 F, 5, 48

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1941 Meacham et a1 6l/1 F Primary ExaminerMervin Stein Assistant Examiner-David H. Corbin Attorney-Charles A; Blank [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for supporting a floating boom which forms a barrier on the surface of a liquid and for forming a seal between the end of the boom and a fixed structure, for example a dock. The apparatus allows lateral and vertical displacement of the boom with changes of wind, current, or tide while maintaining the seal. A deformable, resilient wall held in pressure contact with the dock while supported on a. vertically and laterally movable frame displaceable along a vertical pipe spaced from the dock maintains the seal to prevent oil or other pollutants on the surface of the liquid from passing between the end of the boom and the dock. I v

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures APPARATUS This invention relates to apparatus for supporting a floating boom which forms a barrier on the surface of a liquid and for forming a seal between the end of the boom and a fixed structure.

Floating booms are utilized to confine materials such as oil or other pollutants from spreading on the surface of a liquid, for example, a river, lake or ocean. In waters having varying tide conditions, the oil boom must rise and fall with the tide to confine the pollutants floating on the surface.

Various apparatus have been utilized to attach oil booms to piers and docks and allow the booms to rise and fall with the tide but they generally do not provide satisfactory oil seals between the boom and the dock. Prior apparatus which may provide a satisfactory seal is locked in one position and does not rise and fall with the tide.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a new and improved apparatus for supporting a floating boom which forms a barrier on the surface of a liquid and for forming a seal between the end of the boom and a fixed structure.

It is another object of the invention to provide a new andimproved apparatus for supporting a floating boom which forms a barrier on the surface of a liquid which changes in level and for forming a seal between the end of the boom and a fixed structure during changes in the level of the surface of the liquid due to, for example,

changes of tide.

It is another object of the invention to provide a new and improved apparatus for supporting a floating boom which forms a barrier on the surface of a liquid and for forming an oil-tight seal between the end of the boom and a fixed structure when the lateral and vertical positions of the boom change due to, for example, wind, current, or tide.

In accordancewith the invention, apparatus for supporting a floating boom which forms a barrier on the surface of a liquid and for forming a seal between the end of'the boom and a fixed structure'comprises fixedly positioned approximately vertical means spaced from the fixed structure. The apparatus includes means .for supporting the boom, the boom-supporting means being displaceable approximately vertically along the elongated means and displaceable laterally of the elongated means. The apparatus also includes resilient means between the fixedly positioned means and the fixed structure and attached to theboom-supporting means and extending along the approximately vertical dimension of the boom and deformed by pressure-contact with the fixed structure. The resilient means forms an approximately vertically displaceable seal-between the boom and the fixed structure, the seal being effective over a range of lateral positions of the boomsupporting means and the boom.

For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further objects thereof, reference is made to the followingdescription, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and its scop will be pointed. out in the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention for supporting a floating boom, a fragmentary, elevational view of a fixed structure, and a fragmentary, elevational view of a boom;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the FIG.1 apparatus a sectional view of the fixed structure, and a fragmentary plan view of the boom, taken along line 22'of FIG. 1 and to an enlarged scale; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view, to an enlarged scale, of a portion of the FIG. 1 apparatus, taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, before describing theapparatus constructed in accordance with the invention for supporting a boom, a preferred construction of the boom will be briefly described.

Boom 10 includes a plurality of similar float sections, one of which is designated 11. Float section 11 is spaced from an adjacent similar float section (not shown) by sheet portion 12 which ispartially shown.

As shown in FIG. 1, float section 11 of boom 10 includes a sheet member, designated generally 13, stiffener means 14 and 15, a float member, designated generally l6, and weight means, designated generally 17. The boom 10 floats on the surface of a liquid 18, forexample, a river or ocean. Sheet member 13 is supported in liquid 18 by float member 16 secured thereto at an intermediate height so as to divide sheet member 13 into upper and lower portions 19 and 20, respectively. Upper portion 19 is adapted to extend approximately in a vertically upwardly direction from float member 16, thereby forming a dam, or fence, for preventing floating materials confined by boom 10 from being washed over. Lower portion 20 is adapted to extend approximately vertically downwardly from float member 16. into liquid 18, for preventing materials floating thereon from passing beneath boom 10.

Upper marginal edge portion 21 of sheetmember .18 is folded over a suitable reinforcing strip (not shown) and isstitched or otherwise suitably connected to itself so as to form a sleeve, or overlap, through which the reinforcing strip extends. Similarly, lower marginal edge portion 22 of sheet member 13 is folded over a second reinforcing strip (not shown) and is stitched orothe rwise suitably connected to itself so as to form a sleeve, or overlap, through which a reinforcing strip extends. Sheet member 13 and the reinforcing strips are made from a flexible waterproof material which may be a polymer coated fabric, for example, rubber orpl astic 15 extend substantially from the region of the lower marginal edge portion of sheet member 13 tothe-region of the upper marginal edgeportion thereof. The struts l4 and,l5 are'spaced from one another lengthwise of sheet member 13. Struts l4 and 15 are made from metal, for example, thin, strips of spring steel, which may be corroded by the environment in which they are placed. Thus, cover pieces 23 and 24 aroused to secure struts 14 and 15 respectively, to sheet member 13. Cover pieces 23 and 24 are also made from a polymercoated fabric, for example, rubber or plastic coated nylon, and have their marginal edges vulcanized or otherwise suitably fastened to sheet member 13 so as to form corresponding liquidtight pockets forthe reto pivot substantially as a unit about float member 16 so as to cooperate with one another in resisting external moments and forces applied thereto by waves on the surface of liquid 18. Hence, when waves, currents or other activity on or near the surface of liquid 18 applies a force to sheet member 13, it will be resisted by the respective upper and lower portions 19 and 20 thereof cooperating with one another via the interconnection of struts l4 and 15 which act substantially as a rigid element. As a consequence thereof, sheet member 13 will tend to remain approximately in a stable upright position even though subjected to external moments and forces by liquid 18. In this manner a relatively inflexible barrier is formed so as to thereby entrap pollutants floating therein.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, float member 16 includes a pair of buoyant members enclosed by and secured to sheet member 13 by suitable casings 25, 26. The buoyant members are made preferably substantially of a solid material, such as any suitable type of foam plastic. Although buoyant members may be made from various types of foam, it is desirable to use foam sold under the trademark Ensolite made by Uniroyal, Inc., of New York, New York, or from a suitable polyethylene foam. The foam utilized for the buoyant members is preferably of the closed cell variety. This insures that the foam will not absorb any liquid and will remain buoyant even if surrounded by liquid.

Referrig once again to F IG. 1, weight means 17 is secured to the overlapped lower marginal edge portion 22 of sheet member 13 so as to aid in maintaining sheet member 13 extending approximately in a vertically downwardly direction. Weight means 17 includes a pair of ballast weights 27 (one of which appears in FIG. 1). Ballast weights 27 are affixed to sheet member 13 such that the lower marginal edge portion 22 of sheet member 13 is interposed between the pair of ballast weights. A rivet 28 or other suitable fastening means secures the ballast weights 27 to the lower marginal edge portion 22 of sheet member 13 and to one another.

Sheet portion 12, which is of the same sheet material as sheet member 13, also includes weight means disposed thereon as was heretofore described for float section 11. Sheet portion 12 differs from float section 1 1 primarily in that it does not include float member 16 and stiffener means, or struts, 14 and 15. Hence, sheet portion 12 is extremely flexible, in both the horizontal and vertical directions. The length of the individual sheet portions 12 and float sections 11 may vary to suit the convenience of manufacturing and handling. Floating boom may include a plurality of float sections and sheet portions. For example, a single boom 10 may have as many as several hundred float sections 11 and sheet portions 12, of the type described.

End panels of boom 10 are made preferably of sheet portions similar to portion 16. One such end panel designated generally 29, is shown in FIG. 1 and in fragmentary sectional view in FIG. 3. The end panel 29 has one vertical marginal edge portion folded over a strut 30 and is stitched or otherwise suitably connected against itself so as to form a sleeve, or overlap, through which strut 30 extends. A boom suitable as the boom 10 is described in greater detail and claimed in my copending application Ser. No. l36,377, filed Apr. 22, 1971 and entitled Floating Boom, and that disclosure is incorporated herein by reference. Another boom which may be adapted for use with the apparatus of the present invention is described and claimed in copending application Ser. No. 95,583, filed Dec. 7, 1970 by Walter Juodis and myself and entitled Apparatus For Confining Floating Materials, and that disclosure is incorporated herein by reference.

Referring again to FIG. 1, apparatus for supporting a floating boom which forms a barrier on the surface of a liquid and for forming a seal between the end of the boom and a fixed structure comprises fixedly positioned approximately vertical means spaced from the fixed structure. The fixedly positioned means preferably comprises a metal pipe 31, shown in fragmentary view, and having a substantially cylindrical surface. The pipe 31 is spaced from a fixed structure comprising, for example, a vertical wood plank 32 attached to or forming a part of, for example, a dock or pier. The pipe 31 is attached to the fixed structure 32 by suitable clamps 33, 34 spaced above and below the limits of the vertical movement of the apparatus to be described, as caused, for example, by changes of the tide.

The apparatus also includes means for supporting the boom, the boom-supporting means being displaceable approximately vertically along the elongated means and displaceable laterally of the elongated means. More particularly, the boom-supporting means includes a frame 35 preferably comprising a metal bar bolted to an upper bracket 36 and a lower bracket 37 of similar construction by bolts and nuts 41, 41a and 42,'42a, respectively. The bracket 36 may be more clearly seen in FIG. 2, which is a view taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1. The bracket 36 is preferably made of corrosion-resistant metal and the rollers 38 may, for example, be nylon or corrosion-resistant metal rollers. The rollers 38 and the similar rollers 38a supported by the bracket 37 are rotatable along the cylindrical surface of the pipe 31 for moving the boom-supporting means approximately vertically along the cylindrical surface of the pipe 31. The rollers 38, 38a are slidable around the cylindrical surface of the pipe 31 for moving the boom-supporting means laterally.

The apparatus also includes resilient means between the fixedly positioned means and the fixed structure and attached to the boom-supportingmeans and extending along the approximately vertical dimension of the boom and deformed by pressure contact with the fixed structure. The resilient means forms an approximately vertically displaceable seal between the boomand the fixed structure with the seal being effective over a range of lateral positions of the boom-supporting means and the boom. More particularly, the resilient means comprises a resilient wall 39 which surrounds the pipe 31 and is movable approximately vertically and is rotatable around the pipe 31 in pressure contact with the fixed plank 32. The resilient wall is preferably of approximately circular cross-sectional shape in regions out of contact with the fixed structure and'is of flatened cross-sectional shape in the region deformed by pressure contact with the fixed structureat any given position of the boom. The resilient wall 39 preferably is made from a semi-rigid plastic sheet material, for example, polyethylene, polypropylene, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, or the like and would, if not pressed against the surface of the plank 32, be cylindrical in shape. The resilient wall 39 is also supported by a rigid backing member 40, preferably made of metal, which prevents the resilient wall 39 from being de-' formed other than at the area of contact between the wall 39 and the plank 32.

Referring for the moment to FIGS. 2 and 3, the attachment of the boom 29 to the resilient wall member 39, backing member 40 and bar 35 may be made by suitable bolts and nuts 43, 43a. The bolts and nuts 43,

43a are also used to attach suitable buoyancy units 44, 44a having, for example, metal frames 45, 45a and containing closed cell plastic foam such as described in connection with the buoyancy members of the boom. The buoyancy material may be covered by a suitable polymer coated fabric, such as rubber or plastic coated The wall regions of the wall 39 which have approximately circular cross-sectional shape when out of contact with the plank 32 become flattened when moved into pressure contact with the plank 32 upon lateral displacement of the boom-supporting means due to, for example, wind, tide or current moving the boom laterally. The wall region of flattened cross-sectional shape when deformed by pressure contact with the plank 32 becomes of approximately circular cross-secional shape when moved out of contact with the plank 32 upon lateral displacement of the boom-supporting means. Accordingly, although the normal position of the boom relative to the face of the pier or dock would be perpendicular thereto, wind, tide or current can change this position and a liquid-tight seal is prothe plank 32 as the tide raises and lowers the oil boom vided between the end of the boom 10 and the pier orseal is also maintained as the boom rises and falls due to changes of the tide as the resilient wall 39 slides approximately vertically along the plank 32. While there has been described what at present is considered to be'preferred embodiment of this invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention, and it is, therefore, aimed to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim: I ,q'l. Apparatus for supporting a floating boom which forms a barrier onthesurface ofa liquid and for forming a seal between the end of the boom and a'fixed structure comprising: a fixedly positioned approximately vertical elongated member spaced from the fixed structure; means for supporting the boom, said supporting means being displaceable approximately vertically along said elongated member and displaceable angularl'y of said elongated member; resilient means between said elongated member and the fixed structure and attached to said boomsupporting means and extending along the approximately vertical dimension of the boom, said resilient means comprising a resilient wall which surrounds said elongated member and is movable approximately vertically and is rotatable around said elongated member in pressure contact with the fixed structure;

and rigidmeans attached to said boom-supporting means for pressing said resilient means against the fixed structure to form a surface contact therebe- I tween under pressure deforming said resilient means to conform with the surface of the fixed structure, said resilient means forming an approximately vertically displaceable seal between the boom and the fixed structure, the seal being effective over a range of angular positions of said boomsupporting means and the boom.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which said elongated member has a substantially cylindrical surface and in which said boom-supporting means includes a frame having rollers mounted thereon and rotatable along said cylindrical surface of said member for moving said boom-supporting means approximately vertically along said cylindrical surface of said member, said rollers being slidable around said cylindrical surface of said member for moving said boom-supporting means angularly. I

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which said resilient wall is of, approximately circular crosssectional shape in regions out of contact with the fixed structure and is of flattened cross-sectional shape in the region deformed by pressure contact with the fixed structure.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim said resilient means is of plastic material. I

5. Apparatus for supporting a floating boom which forms a barrier on the surface of a liquid and for form- 'ing a seal between the end of the boom and a fixed structure comprising:

.a fixedly positioned approximately vertical elongated member spaced from the fixed structure; means for supporting the boom, said supporting means being displaceable approximately vertically along said elongated member and displaceable angularly of said elongated member; I r

' a resilient wall between said elongated member and the fixed structure and attached to said boomsupporting means and surrounding said elongated member and extending along the approximately vertical dimension of the boom and movable approximatelyj verticallyand rotatablearound said v elongated member; and rigid means attached to said boom-supporting means for pressing said resilient wall againstthefixed structure to form a surface contact therebetween under pressure deforming said resilient wall to conform with the surface of the fixed structure, said resilient wall being of approximately circular cross-section in regions out ofcontact withthe fixed structure and being of flattened crosssectional shape in the region deformed by pressure contact with the fixed structure, the wall regions of approximately circular cross-sectional shape when out of contact with the fixed structure becoming flattened when moved into pressurecontact with the fixed structure upon angular displacement of said boom-supporting means and the wall region of flattened cross-sectional shape when deformed by pressure contact with the fixed structure becoming i in which of approximately circular cross-sectional shape the boom and the fixed structure, the seal being efwhen moved out of contact with the fixed structure upon angular displacement of said boomsupporting means, said resilient wall forming an approximately vertically displaceable seal between fective over a range of angular positions of said boom-supporting means and the boom. 

1. Apparatus for supporting a floating boom which forms a barrier on the surface of a liquid and for forming a seal between the end of the boom and a fixed structure comprising: a fixedly positioned approximately vertical elongated member spaced from the fixed structure; means for supporting the boom, said supporting means being displaceable approximately vertically along said elongated member and displaceable angularly of said elongated member; resilient means between said elongated member and the fixed structure and attached to said boom-supporting means and extending along the approximately vertical dimension of the boom, said resilient means comprising a resilient wall which surrounds said elongated member and is movable approximately vertically and is rotatable around said elongated member in pressure contact with the fixed structure; and rigid means attached to said boom-supporting means for pressing said resilient means against the fixed structure to form a surface contact therebetween under pressure deforming said resilient means to conform with the surface of the fixed structure, said resilient means forming an approximately vertically displaceable seal between the boom and the fixed structure, the seal being effective over a range of angular positions of said boom-supporting means and the boom.
 2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which said elongated member has a substantially cylindrical surface and in which said boom-supporting means includes a frame having rollers mounted thereon and rotatable along said cylindrical surface of said member for moving said boom-supporting means approximately vertically along said cylindrical surface of said member, said rollers being slidable around said cylindrical surface of said member for moving said boom-supporting means angularly.
 3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which said resilient wall is of approximately circular cross-sectional shape in regions out of contact with the fixed structure and is of flattened cross-sectional shape in the region deformed by pressure contact with the fixed structure.
 4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which said resilient means is of plastic material.
 5. Apparatus for supporting a floating boom which forms a barrier on the surface of a liquid and for forming a seal between the end of the boom and a fixed structure comprising: a fixedly positioned approximately vertical elongated member spaced from the fixed structure; means for supporting the boom, said supporting means being diSplaceable approximately vertically along said elongated member and displaceable angularly of said elongated member; a resilient wall between said elongated member and the fixed structure and attached to said boom-supporting means and surrounding said elongated member and extending along the approximately vertical dimension of the boom and movable approximately vertically and rotatable around said elongated member; and rigid means attached to said boom-supporting means for pressing said resilient wall against the fixed structure to form a surface contact therebetween under pressure deforming said resilient wall to conform with the surface of the fixed structure, said resilient wall being of approximately circular cross-section in regions out of contact with the fixed structure and being of flattened cross-sectional shape in the region deformed by pressure contact with the fixed structure, the wall regions of approximately circular cross-sectional shape when out of contact with the fixed structure becoming flattened when moved into pressure contact with the fixed structure upon angular displacement of said boom-supporting means and the wall region of flattened cross-sectional shape when deformed by pressure contact with the fixed structure becoming of approximately circular cross-sectional shape when moved out of contact with the fixed structure upon angular displacement of said boom-supporting means, said resilient wall forming an approximately vertically displaceable seal between the boom and the fixed structure, the seal being effective over a range of angular positions of said boom-supporting means and the boom. 